At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard someone ask ‘What does caps mean in football?’. We’re here to tell you, they weren’t the only one…
To some people, they hear cap and think, you know, a hat. But we aren’t referring to the football accessory, a cap in football is something completely different. And in this blog, we’re going to discover what a cap in football terms actually is.
So, keep reading to find out more…
Table of Contents
- What Does Caps Mean in Football?
- A Short History of a Cap
- What Do Football Commerotative Caps Look Like?
- What Counts as a Cap in Football?
- Can Women Football Players Get Caps?
- Does a Substituted Player Still Get a Cap?
- Do Players on the Bench Get a Cap?
- Are Football Caps Just a British Thing?
- The Top Players with the Most Caps
- Male Football Players with the Most Caps
- Female Football Players with the Most Caps
- Can You Have Caps for Multiple Teams?
- What Football Players Have Played for Two Nations?
What Does Caps Mean in Football?
Before you go around saying that caps refer to hats as part of a footballer’s kit, let’s tell you the proper definition.
A cap simply means the number of times a football player has represented their country in an international competition. So, whenever you see your favourite footballer don their international shirt either in an official match or a friendly, they’ve gained a cap. You may hear commentators say a player is making their 'international debut' which signifies this would be their first cap. The more caps a player has, the ‘better’ the player is considered as they have been chosen to represent their country more due to their abilities and experience.
The number of caps able to be gained throughout a year depends if it is a year with the Euros or World Cup, as obviously, this means there will be more international fixtures during this period. However, did you know that the World Cup or Euros only counts as one cap for the entire competition?
On average, there are between 10-12 international matches each year giving players the opportunity to represent their country (and gain caps) at least 10 times annually.
Bet they’re still miffed off that the Euros and World Cup only count as one…
Image Source: Jude Bellingham
A Short History of a Cap
You may think that caps are a new tradition, but the history of caps goes all the way back to the 1800s!
It all started with the first honorary secretary of the football association, N.L. “Pa” Jackson. He thought that players should have something to be awarded to show for their achievements for being chosen to represent their country. What was the item in question?
You guessed it: a physical cap!
Yep, that’s where the name came from. So, if you did think caps meant a hat, you’re technically not wrong! It is believed that Jackson got the idea from cricket - players still receive caps based on how many times they have represented their country.
These days, physical caps are far less popular than they once were but they haven’t completely disappeared! Physical caps are still used to celebrate when certain cap milestones are met. For example, Wayne Rooney has achieved over 100 caps for the England team, and for this achievement, he was awarded with a golden cap to mark being England’s youngest-ever centurion!
What Do Football Commemorative Caps Look Like?
Unlike regular hats, commemorative caps are made from luxurious velvet (or a similar material) to signify the momentous occasion. The cap is embroidered with details such as:
- Country emblem
- Date of the match
- Player’s name
And is, of course, finished with either a gold or silver trim and tassel because it wouldn’t be complete without those finishing touches!
What Counts as a Cap in Football?
Now you understand what caps mean in football and the history of where they began, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty. You may have some questions about football caps, and in this section of the blog, we'll be answering all your FAQs.
To begin with, you may be asking what counts as a cap in football? Well, it’s any time you are brought onto the pitch to represent your country.
So it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing an England Euros kit for the full 90 minutes or just six, the cap still counts.
Can Women Football Players Get Caps?
Yes! It’s not just the men who get the accolades - as we saw with the Lionesses back in 2022. Anytime women wear a football shirt for the England team, they also get a cap for their achievement.
Image Source: England
Does a Substituted Player Still Get a Cap?
We all know that moment when a player gets substituted in the 79th minute and we pray that they can quickly turn the game around. Surely they get a cap for (hopefully) performing miracles? Yes, they do! No matter when a player is substituted onto the pitch, they will gain a cap for their appearance.
Do Players on the Bench Get a Cap?
Unfortunately, players who are on the bench don’t get a cap just for sitting there. When you say it like that it totally makes sense… The only way football players can receive a cap is if they are actually on the pitch for the game. No wonder they look so eager on the sidelines!
Are Football Caps Just a British Thing?
Do you know what, caps do sound like something the British would do! But this isn’t just a phenomenon in the UK. Football players all over the world can achieve caps for their achievements for being chosen to represent their country. For example, you can have Spanish football caps as well as other countries.
In fact, some of the players with the most caps to their name are from other countries around the world. Are we more interested in who has the best international football shirt? Maybe. But to them, wearing the shirt means they could go down in football history for the most caps.
Image Source: England
The Top Players with the Most Caps
Like we’ve just mentioned, players from all over the world can gain caps for representing their country during official and friendly football matches. But which player has the the most amount of caps? Let’s find out!
Male Football Players with the Most Caps
|
World Ranking |
Player Name |
Country |
Number of Caps |
|
1st |
Cristanio Ronaldo |
Portugal |
216 |
|
2nd |
Bader Al-Mutawa |
Kuwait |
196 |
|
3rd |
Soh Chin Ann |
Malaysia |
195 |
|
4th |
Lionel Messi |
Argentina |
190 |
|
5th |
Ahmed Hassan |
Egypt |
184 |
|
Joint 6th |
Ahemd Mubarak Hassan Al-Haydos |
Oman Qatar |
183 |
|
8th |
Sergio Ramos |
Spain |
180 |
|
9th |
Andres Guardado |
Mexico |
179 |
|
Joint 10th |
Claudio Suarez Hossam Hassan |
Mexico Egypt |
177 |
We told you they were from all over the world! But now, let’s hear it for the girls.
Female Football Players with the Most Caps
|
World Ranking |
Player Name |
Country |
Number of Caps |
|
1st |
Kristine Lilly |
United States |
354 |
|
2nd |
Christine Sinclair |
Canada |
331 |
|
3rd |
Carli Lloyd |
United States |
316 |
|
4th |
Christie Pearce |
United States |
311 |
|
5th |
Mia Hamm |
United States |
276 |
|
6th |
Julie Foudy |
United States |
274 |
|
7th |
Abby Wambach |
United States |
255 |
|
8th |
Joy Fawcett |
United States |
241 |
|
9th |
Caroline Seger |
Sweden |
240 |
|
10th |
Sherida Spitse |
Netherlands |
235 |
Who would have thought that women would have more caps than men? Potentially this is due to the lower number of professional female football players so they have more chance of being chosen to represent their country and stack up those caps!
Can You Have Caps for Multiple Teams?
Although it is pretty rare, a player can have caps for multiple teams. However, this is only applicable in senior matches - so any caps gained through junior football won’t count. The main reason players can get caps for two different teams is usually due to the fact that they have dual nationality.
FIFA rules used to say that players were able to switch nationality if they had a ‘clear connection’ to the country - does anyone actually know what that means? Who knows… In 2021, FIFA changed its nationality ruling which states:
“Players can switch national teams, even if they have played in an official match for the original country, as long as it was three or fewer matches before they turned 21.”
What Football Players Have Played for Two Nations?
There are a few players who have worn the football shirt of multiple countries, including:
- Diego Costa - Brazil/ Spain
- Alfredo Di Stefano - Argentina/ Spain
- Declan Rice - Ireland/ England
- Michel Platini - France/ Kuwait
- Ferenc Puskas - Hungary/ Spain
- Laszlo Kubala - Czechoslovakia/ Hungary/ Spain
- Thiago Motta - Brazil/ Italy
- Inaki Williams - Spain/ Ghana
- Wilfried Zaha - England/ Ivory Coast
- Denzel Dumfries - Aruba/ Netherlands
Lucky for them, huh!
Image Source: Declan Rice
If You’re After a (Regular) Football Cap, We Can Help!
Now you know what a football cap is (and more!), you may be considering purchasing a cap yourself. When we say that, of course we mean a typical football hat!
We even offer a football hat mystery box if you are someone who prefers the element of surprise.
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